Services

City Deals proposals could help fight poverty

HOPES are growing that Government moves to give cities more freedom will benefit York’s poorest citizens.

But York's Joseph Rowntree Trust chief executive Julia Unwin warned communities should prepare to seize the power – or risk swapping one group of bureaucrats for another.

Research by the trust and other organisations has already underlined the importance of larger communities to future prosperity.

The Government has already announced its City Deals proposals to let the UK's major population centres "off the Whitehall leash".

Ms Unwin, in an online blog, said: “There is widespread agreement that many of the challenges facing the UK, whether fiscal, environmental or demographic, have a local dimension and require a local response."

The effectiveness of local action had already been shown, both in emergencies - by the good neighbour spirit shown during flooding. - and planned campaigns, such as Yorkshire becoming dementia friendly, she added.

The Press has been running a Stamp Out Poverty campaign since December 2012, aiming to help local anti-poverty charities, raise awareness of poverty and to tackle the stigma around it.

City of York Council leader James Alexander said: “I have been asking the question who benefits from economic growth and the opportunities it presents for a long time.

“That is why in York we have adopted policies which provide support to those who most need it, from increasing the supply of more affordable housing to attracting new jobs.

“I’m also proud that York was the first council in the region to commit to and pay the Living Wage.

“City Deals are an important first step in giving cities greater powers to improve the lives of their residents through growing their economies.

“But this in itself is not enough and is where local councils become critical to ensuring partnership working and the allocation of resources are working best for those who aren’t, but who should be, enjoying the benefits of that growth.”

Ms Unwin added: “We know that huge economical potential currently lies untapped in the UK.. The City Deals recognise how well placed cities are to do this.

"A focus on cities and localism, however, must be about much more than devolving power from one group of anonymous officials in Whitehall, to another group of anonymous officials in the town hall. "Civic leaders need to be far sighted, and think about how they can hand over new powers to communities and neighbourhoods, as quickly as they receive them."

Oh dear, the power hungry, cultural political elite clique, using the poverty excuse to grab even more power to push their leftist agenda!

Oh dear, the power hungry, cultural political elite clique, using the poverty excuse to grab even more power to push their leftist agenda!Badgers Drift

Oh dear, the power hungry, cultural political elite clique, using the poverty excuse to grab even more power to push their leftist agenda!

Score: -57

Jack Ham
11:37am Sat 31 May 14

Expect to see more of this propaganda before the next election.

Julia Unwin, who's husband Patrick Kelly is chairman of York Labour Party should declare a conflict of interest when using what was once a great York institution in order to further her political aims.

I predict that before long, in response to this report, Yorks Labour Cabinet, supported by the wife of the York Labour Party chairman, gives more of our money to York Citizens Advice Bureau whose chief executive us yet another member of the York Labour Party. York CAB will then be issuing press releases talking about how only they can help fight government cuts.

There is something rotten at the heart of public life in York.

If everything was above board they why are these connections and conflicts not discussed openly?

Expect to see more of this propaganda before the next election.
Julia Unwin, who's husband Patrick Kelly is chairman of York Labour Party should declare a conflict of interest when using what was once a great York institution in order to further her political aims.
I predict that before long, in response to this report, Yorks Labour Cabinet, supported by the wife of the York Labour Party chairman, gives more of our money to York Citizens Advice Bureau whose chief executive us yet another member of the York Labour Party. York CAB will then be issuing press releases talking about how only they can help fight government cuts.
There is something rotten at the heart of public life in York.
If everything was above board they why are these connections and conflicts not discussed openly?Jack Ham

Expect to see more of this propaganda before the next election.

Julia Unwin, who's husband Patrick Kelly is chairman of York Labour Party should declare a conflict of interest when using what was once a great York institution in order to further her political aims.

I predict that before long, in response to this report, Yorks Labour Cabinet, supported by the wife of the York Labour Party chairman, gives more of our money to York Citizens Advice Bureau whose chief executive us yet another member of the York Labour Party. York CAB will then be issuing press releases talking about how only they can help fight government cuts.

There is something rotten at the heart of public life in York.

If everything was above board they why are these connections and conflicts not discussed openly?

The highest paid 'employee' of JRF receives an annual salary of £164k, presumably chief executive Julia Unwin. She spends a lot of her time writing books, tweeting, and giving talks/lectures around the UK, and the world, last week talking about poverty in Australia!!

As the saying goes, charity begins at home.... !!!

The highest paid 'employee' of JRF receives an annual salary of £164k, presumably chief executive Julia Unwin. She spends a lot of her time writing books, tweeting, and giving talks/lectures around the UK, and the world, last week talking about poverty in Australia!!
As the saying goes, charity begins at home.... !!!Badgers Drift

The highest paid 'employee' of JRF receives an annual salary of £164k, presumably chief executive Julia Unwin. She spends a lot of her time writing books, tweeting, and giving talks/lectures around the UK, and the world, last week talking about poverty in Australia!!

As the saying goes, charity begins at home.... !!!

Score: -42

piaggio1
3:54pm Sat 31 May 14

anything from this bunch is usually filled wi political b******t..all champagne socialist .s. not one of em has a real job.all on vast pensions paid for by the public......I know one of em is a joe rows employee. Horrible bunch....

anything from this bunch is usually filled wi political b******t..all champagne socialist .s. not one of em has a real job.all on vast pensions paid for by the public......I know one of em is a joe rows employee. Horrible bunch....piaggio1

anything from this bunch is usually filled wi political b******t..all champagne socialist .s. not one of em has a real job.all on vast pensions paid for by the public......I know one of em is a joe rows employee. Horrible bunch....

Score: -34

Magicman!
2:11am Sun 1 Jun 14

I'd be quite wary of these City Deals to let local councils "off the Whitehall leash"... when it came to allocating Council Tax benefit, this current government let councils "off the Whitehall leash" and devolved power to them, but did NOT devolve funding from that benefit pot to local councils - effectively meaning councils had to split what little money they had in more directions. What I fear is that these City Deals will do just the same thing but on a grander scale.

I'd be quite wary of these City Deals to let local councils "off the Whitehall leash"... when it came to allocating Council Tax benefit, this current government let councils "off the Whitehall leash" and devolved power to them, but did NOT devolve funding from that benefit pot to local councils - effectively meaning councils had to split what little money they had in more directions. What I fear is that these City Deals will do just the same thing but on a grander scale.Magicman!

I'd be quite wary of these City Deals to let local councils "off the Whitehall leash"... when it came to allocating Council Tax benefit, this current government let councils "off the Whitehall leash" and devolved power to them, but did NOT devolve funding from that benefit pot to local councils - effectively meaning councils had to split what little money they had in more directions. What I fear is that these City Deals will do just the same thing but on a grander scale.

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here